Kevin Keegan (1977)

Kevin Keegan went on to play for Hamburg (Image: Getty)

Liverpool had known all season that Keegan was leaving in the summer for Germany, but the striker responded with an outstanding campaign to help the Reds to their first European Cup final against Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Keegan ran Germany great Berti Vogts into the ground and won a penalty which Phil Neal converted eight minutes from full-time to seal a 3-1 triumph.

With such simplicity Liverpool's first European Cup was won. For Keegan, it was the perfect farewell gift before joining Hamburg.

Vladimir Smicer (2005)

Injury had wrecked Smicer's Liverpool career, so much so that he started only two games during the one season he had under Rafael Benitez.

He was on the bench for the game at Istanbul against AC Milan. Famously, though, he came on for the stricken Harry Kewell in the first half, scored Liverpool's second goal of their comeback from 3-0 down to earn a 3-3 draw, then netted in the decisive shoot-out that earned the Reds victory.

Smicer could be spotted in the club hotel after the game, smoking a big cigar to commemorate a job well done. His next stop was Bordeaux.

Bolo Zenden (2007)

Boudewijn Zenden in his Liverpool days (Image: Getty)

The Dutchman spent only two years at Anfield but became something of a cult hero during the run to the Champions League final against AC Milan, netting in the semi-final shoot-out win over Chelsea.

Zenden was preferred to Harry Kewell in the starting line-up but was substituted for the Australian on the hour as the Reds slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

The midfielder then left on a free transfer to Marseille, and came up against Liverpool in the following season's Champions League.